Shakespeare Platinum Award

Course overview
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Complete your Shakespeare Awards journey with the Platinum Award. You are invited to 'pitch' a Shakespeare production, perform two contrasting speeches of your own choosing, and, with 15 minutes preparation time, read a given speech.

You will also submit an essay, before the assessment, on an archive video recording of a Shakespeare play, chosen by your RADA tutor. You will receive written feedback as part of your results.

To gain the Platinum Award requires an achievement of 95 marks out of 160 marks.

During the assessment

15 minutes before your assessment, you will be given a speech to read, which you will later work on with the assessor, as the sight reading element of your Award.

You will deliver a 10 minute presentation outlining how you would stage a Shakespeare play of your own choosing.

You should consider where the play is to be performed, and be prepared to give your design ideas for setting and costume. It may be useful to present any research material that you have collected.

You and your RADA tutor will have a 10-minute discussion on your presentation.

You will then present two widely differing Shakespeare speeches of your own choosing: these can be from plays or poems.

Each speech should be around 15 to 20 lines.

After each piece, you will work with the assessor on developing your delivery, before you perform the piece again.

You present your speech for the sight reading element (you are not expected to have learned the speech).

You will work with the assessor on developing your delivery, before you perform the piece again.

After the assessment

You will receive your results and any feedback by post within one month.

Marking criteria

Advice and declaration

Award dates

FAQs
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The main thing is to feel comfortable: and feel free to wear something that helps you feel a little “in character”. But avoid any conscious attempt at decorative costuming or dressing-up, as this is bound to waste time and be distracting.

It may help to take notes, but we strongly recommend that you do so immediately following the assessment, rather than during it. In order to progress, and to gain the fullest value from the assessment, it is important you reflect on the suggestions and pointers you were given by the assessor; and likewise to consider - and record - your own feelings afterwards. Do remember to bring a bottle of water, of course, as it’s important that you don’t dry out!

There may not always be an appropriate space to ‘warm up’, and so you should prepare carefully beforehand. Remember, some gentle, deep breathing - in through the nose and out through the mouth - can help with nerves (gently sip your water as well). There will be no time for a warm-up in the assessment space itself: but you should take a moment for a little shake-out, a brrrrrr-ing of the lips, perhaps: things that you know can help relax and “bring you back to yourself”. And remember, the assessors are on your side: they want to help you get the most out of your experience.

If you have an “accent” (and who doesn’t?), do not feel you have to play it down or “posh it up” for the assessment: the assessor will be looking, above all, for clarity and good, natural projection – in short, a confident use of your normal voice. (In any case, the sound made by the actors in Shakespeare’s time would be nothing like what we know nowadays as “standard English”).

Yes. Apart for the sight-reading element of the Gold Award, adequate performance from memory is part of the Award assessment. The assessors will be patient with you, of course: and let you begin again, or repeat a passage, if need be.

Better not to. But do choose an eye-line that, while not in direct contact with the assessor, still gives her or him a full-face view of you. In a speech, avoid acting side-on to the assessor too much: in a scene, try to ensure you face the assessor for some of the time.

The assessor will report on your efforts to the Awards Director; and he or she will then write to you with some encouraging feedback. Beyond that, RADA Awards staff cannot undertake to advise you. It is important to remember that a failure to meet the requirements of an award is not the end! You will, we hope, feel encouraged to try again; incorporating the feedback you have been given.

Following assessment, you will find out if you gained the Award; or failed: but we don’t release marks with the results, as the RADA Shakespeare Awards are about much more than marks and numbers. We encourage you to focus more on the process than the result, since engaging fully with the in-the-room feedback, taking time to reflect, making notes and discussing your assessment will help you learn and grow in a deeper way. The focus of the Awards is your growth as a person and as a performer. We want to encourage you to think of this less as an exam - with marks or points - and more like a rehearsal which will challenge, inspire and develop you.

Terms and conditions
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This document sets out the terms and conditions between the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (“RADA”) and any individuals participating in the RADA Awards (“Awards”). You should read these terms and conditions carefully as it contains important information. These terms become binding on you when RADA receives your application for assessment under the Awards.These terms and conditions are binding as and when RADA receives your application for assessment under any level of the Awards. As part of your contract you agree to be bound by these terms, including the Regulations for the conduct of the Award listed below.Where the Awards are taking place at a host centre, you have a right to expect that the room will be suitable for purpose, with adequate space for movement and appropriate lighting, in accordance with RADA’s regulations. If suitable space is not provided, then this is a matter between you and the host venue and RADA will not be held liable for the host venue’s failure to provide you with appropriate space for assessment.RADA will provide assessors who meet its requirements for delivering the Awards and will provide assessment, feedback and tuition with reasonable care and skill.RADA may, on occasion, be compelled to change syllabus material, but it will not do so for individuals already booked for assessments.The result of the Assessment will be provided to candidates on the day. The Assessor’s decision is final and RADA will only consider an appeal (in accordance with the Award regulations) if the proper process has not been followed, not on the grounds of the Assessor’s professional judgment of your performance.RADA may from time to time revise the terms and conditions of the contract including the rules and regulations referred to in these terms and conditions in the following circumstances:

6.1 where RADA reasonably considers this to be necessary for the enhancement of its provision in the best interests of participants.

6.2 in circumstances which are caused by matters outside our control; and/or

6.3 in circumstances which reflect changes in relevant laws

All Award fees must be paid in full prior to any scheduled assessment. If fees have not been received at least 14 days prior to the assessment, it will not take place, but you may still be liable for costs associated with the assessment.Fees paid for Workshops and Assessments are non-refundable as a result of cancellation (subject to the provisions of clause 9 below)You have the right to cancel this contract under the Consumer Contract (Information, Cancellation and Additional Payments) Regulations 2013 within 14 days without giving any reason.The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day of the conclusion of this contract.10.1 The contract is governed by English law and subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts. However, if you are a resident of Northern Ireland you may also bring proceedings in Northern Ireland; if you are a resident of Scotland, you may also bring proceedings in Scotland; and, if you are a resident of any country in the EU, you may also bring proceedings in that country which is your national country.

RADA Awards: Regulations

These regulations apply to all candidates taking RADA Awards and any Centres offering the Awards.The RADA Awards are progressive and candidates must be followed in order. There is no limit on the number of times an individual candidate may take each level of Award, including repeating passed levels.Candidates must arrive on time for your Award assessment. Failure to arrive at the appropriate time, may lead to the assessment being cancelled, and the candidate will still be liable for the Award fees.Where the Awards take place outside of RADA’s premises, the Centre hosting the Award must provide an appropriate rehearsal space. This must include adequate space for movement (including a suitable flooring), sufficient lighting for both practical work and for the Assessor to produce written notes, a table and chair, and water for the Assessor and candidates.Candidates should be suitably dressed for the assessment: wearing comfortable clothes and shoes, suitable for the practical style of the Award assessment, which give the candidate freedom to move and breathe without restriction. Though candidates may wear items that help them to “feel” their way into character, there should be no attempt at literal costuming.RADA expects candidates to behave towards the Assessor in a polite and respectful manner. Threatening or abusive behaviour will lead to the Assessment being terminated and no refund will be made.Right of Appeal: Unsuccessful candidates may only appeal against the outcome of an Assessment if they believe that:

6.1 that the candidate’s performance was affected through extenuating circumstances that could not have been reasonably reported at the time of Assessment.

6.2 The Assessment was not conducted in accordance with the prescribed guidance.

Appeals against the decision of an Assessor should be made, in writing to the RADA Awards office awards@rada.ac.uk within fourteen days of the date of the assessment.The appeal will be investigated by a member of the Awards team not connected to the delivery of that particular Award or Assessment and the result communicated to the candidate. The Academy’s decision in relation to this appeal will be final and there is no further right of appeal.

Further information for Candidates

RADA welcomes applications for Awards from people of all backgrounds. We encourage disabled people to make us aware of any particular access needs so that we can make reasonable adjustments and ensure you have everything you need to get the most out of your Award assessment and experience. Dyslexic applicants must submit a full report from a chartered educational psychologist with their application.Candidates should note that the RADA Awards are a developmental teaching tool stemming from the Academy’s decades of offering drama training and not a formal qualification regulated by Ofqual. The Awards are not offered by RADA as preparation for or a requirement of entry to its full-time acting programmes: obtaining a RADA Award is in no way a qualification for RADA’s 3-year acting degree course, as the processes of assessment are entirely unrelated; and admission to RADA’s Foundation Course in Acting and BA (Hons) Acting is by audition.

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

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